Research services
Whether you are researching your family history or Essex Police, the museum may be able to help you.
Records of service
We have a large collection of service records or information files for officers dating back to 1840.
All information is subject to strict rules on use and release. In some cases, particularly for recent records or records of officers still living, we may ask you to provide evidence of your relationship to or permission from the individual you are enquiring about.
If we have the record of service it will contain the following information about an individual:
- Personal details including date and place of birth, family and previous
- Occupation
- Rank
- Dates of service
- Where they served
- Training
- Pay
- Commendations
- Misconducts
- Sickness
- Reason for Leaving
Cost
There is a £20 fee to purchase a PDF service record copy which contributes to our storage and conservation costs. Where an officer has worked across different forces within Essex, such as with Essex County Constabulary and Southend-On-Sea Borough Police, they may have multiple service records. All charges will be agreed with you prior to invoicing.
How to request a record
To request a record of service please contact us and provide as much information as you can. We will then check to see if we have the record and ensure the appropriate permissions are in place to release it. We will then invoice you for the purchase and email over a PDF copy once the payment is received.
Find our more
You may find more information by searching through copies of the Essex Police newspaper, and our History Notebooks.